In short
In the 2021 Census, 43.9% of Australians identified as Christian, down from 52.1% in 2016 and 61.1% in 2011. It was the first census in which fewer than half the population reported a Christian affiliation. At the same time, "no religion" rose to 38.9%, up from 30.1% in 2016 and 22.3% in 2011. Catholicism remained the largest denomination at 20.0%, followed by Anglicanism at 9.8%. Islam (3.2%) and Hinduism (2.7%) are the largest non-Christian religions.
- In 2021, 43.9% of Australians identified as Christian, down from 52.1% in 2016 and 61.1% in 2011, the first census below half (ABS).
- "No religion" rose to 38.9% in 2021, up from 30.1% in 2016 and 22.3% in 2011 (ABS).
- Catholicism was the largest denomination at 20.0%, followed by Anglicanism at 9.8% (ABS).
- Islam (3.2%) and Hinduism (2.7%) are the largest non-Christian religions in Australia (ABS).
Australia was long a majority-Christian country, but that changed at the 2021 Census. For the first time, fewer than half of Australians identified as Christian, at 43.9%, down from 52.1% in 2016 and 61.1% in 2011, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Over the same period, "no religion" climbed to 38.9%, up from 30.1% in 2016 and just 22.3% in 2011. Catholicism remained the single largest denomination at 20.0%, ahead of Anglicanism at 9.8%, while Islam and Hinduism are the largest non-Christian religions. Census religion figures are self-declared and the question is voluntary. The figures below draw on the ABS, the National Church Life Survey, and the Pew Research Center, the most authoritative sources on religion in Australia.
Key findings at a glance
| Metric | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian (all denominations) | 43.9% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| No religion | 38.9% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| Catholic (largest denomination) | 20.0% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| Anglican | 9.8% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| Islam | 3.2% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| Hinduism | 2.7% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
How many Australians are Christian?
Christianity is still the most common religion in Australia, but its share of the population has fallen steeply over the past decade. The 2021 Census was the first in which fewer than half of Australians reported a Christian affiliation, a milestone highlighted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In 2021, 43.9% of Australians identified as Christian, down from 52.1% in 2016 and 61.1% in 2011, the first census in which fewer than half the population reported a Christian affiliation, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In 2016, 52.1% of Australians identified as Christian, still a majority at that census, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
| Statistic | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian (all denominations) | 43.9% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| Christian (all denominations) | 52.1% | 2016 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| Christian (all denominations) | 61.1% | 2011 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
Build a daily prayer habit
Pray Focus helps you pray every day by gently locking distracting apps during your prayer time.
The rise of "no religion"
The mirror image of the Christian decline is the rapid growth of people reporting no religion. This group has nearly doubled as a share of the population in ten years and is now close to overtaking the Christian total, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In 2021, 38.9% of Australians reported having no religion, up from 30.1% in 2016 and 22.3% in 2011, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In 2011, 22.3% of Australians reported no religion, showing how sharply the group has grown in a decade, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
| Statistic | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 38.9% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| No religion | 30.1% | 2016 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| No religion | 22.3% | 2011 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
Denominations and other faiths
Within the Christian total, Catholicism is the largest single denomination, well ahead of Anglicanism. Beyond Christianity, Islam and Hinduism are the largest non-Christian religions, reflecting Australia's growing religious diversity, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In 2021, 20.0% of Australians identified as Catholic, making it the largest single Christian denomination in the country, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In 2021, 9.8% of Australians identified as Anglican, the second-largest Christian denomination, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
| Statistic | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 20.0% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| Anglican | 9.8% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| Islam | 3.2% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| Hinduism | 2.7% | 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
How we compiled these statistics
Every number on this page is traceable to a primary source and dated to the year the data were collected. The affiliation figures come from the 2021 Census of Population and Housing reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which asks a voluntary, self-declared religion question and compares results with the 2016 and 2011 censuses. For context on lived church practice and attendance we point to the National Church Life Survey, and for international comparison to the Pew Research Center. Where earlier census years are cited, we use the figures published by the ABS and label each with its year.
Want to slow down and pray instead of scrolling through social media? Pray Focus pairs distraction-free prayer time with a free library of Scripture-based and traditional prayers by theme, Catholic, Protestant, and beyond.
Learn to pray.Make it a daily habit.
One email at a time, at your pace
Join our free email course and learn simple, time-tested ways to pray, with one small thing to try each time, so prayer slowly becomes part of your day.
- 8 short lessons: the Daily Examen, Lectio Divina, ACTS and more
- One tiny exercise each time, so praying becomes a habit
- Gentle and practical, never preachy. Free, forever.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
Related articles
Church Statistics
Church Attendance Statistics: Weekly Attendance Now vs Two Decades Ago (2025)
Weekly church attendance in the US has fallen from about 42% two decades ago to roughly 30% today. Here is what Gallup, Pew, PRRI, and the Hartford Institute actually found, including a first rise in congregation attendance in 25 years.
Church Statistics
Christianity in America: Statistics and Trends (2025)
About 62% of US adults identify as Christian, down from 78% in 2007 but broadly stable since 2019. Here is what Pew, PRRI, and Gallup actually found on belief, prayer, attendance, and the decline that appears to have leveled off.
Church Statistics
Global Christianity Statistics: How Many Christians (2025)
About 2.65 billion Christians worldwide in 2025, still the largest faith, with 68.9% now in the Global South. Here is what Gordon-Conwell, Pew, and the Vatican actually found on the size and shape of world Christianity.